Abu Dhabi emerging as hot tour spot

― Etihad Airways offers tickets to city with premium Arabian hospitality ―

By Lee Hyo-sik

ABU DHABI ― Do you want to visit the world’s most expensive mosque whose towers are covered with gold? Do you want to see how falcons are pampered and trained for hunting in the desert? Do you want to try the fastest rollercoaster ride in the world? Do you want to spend the night in desert as Bedouin tribesmen did decades ago?

If so, all you have to do is to fly with Etihad Airways, national flagship carrier of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to Abu Dhabi, the rapidly-expanding metropolis that has emerged in recent years as a popular tourist destination in the Middle East.

There are many more tourism attractions that Abu Dhabi offers, including a Formula 1 race circuit and a cruise ride along the pristine Arabian Gulf, which will surely entertain visitors to this sprawling city.

Yas Island

Just within a 30-minute drive from Abu Dhabi city center, Yas Island, one of more than 200 islands there, is a rapidly emerging entertainment destination for both foreign tourists and locals.

First, visitors will find the fabulous Yas Marina Circuit; the-state-of-the-art motor sports race track, home to the annual Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. A full calendar of motorsports and entertainment events, both professional and amateur, takes place at the circuit.

Forming the centerpiece of Yas Marina Circuit is the Yas Hotel, a five-star hotel and only one in the world to straddle an F1 circuit, breathtakingly built half on land and half over the Yas Marina.

For theme-park lovers, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the world’s first Ferrari theme park and the largest indoor theme park is the place to go. Completed in October 2010, it has more than 20 different rides and other exciting entertainment programs. Formula Rossa, the world’s fastest rollercoaster reaching a maximum speed of 250 kilometers per hour, will offer speed lovers the ride of their life.

For golf lovers Yas Island presents the first links golf course in the Middle East designed by Kyle Phillips, one of the world’s leading golf course designers. Yas Links Abu Dhabi Golf Club, which opened its door in 2010, is an 18-hole, par-72 course available for both members and guests.

For more information on tourist attractions and leisure facilities on Yas Island log onto www.yasisland.ae

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque & Emirates Palace Hotel

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is one of the world’s largest and can accommodate more than 40,000 worshipers simultaneously. It is certainly the most expensive mosque in the world as the UAE spent more than $700 million to build it.

It is named after Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder and the first UAE President, who was buried next to the mosque. It features 80 domes, approximately 1000 columns, 24-carat gold-plated chandeliers and the world’s largest hand-woven carpet. Unlike other mosques in Abu Dhabi, it is open to non-Muslims.

The mosque is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily (except Friday mornings when it’s open only to worshippers). Complimentary ``walk-in’’ guided tours start at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturdays to Thursdays. All visitors are advised to respect the religion and place of prayer by strictly observing dress and conduct codes.

To book mosque tours and find more information visit www.szgmc.ae

Another iconic landmark of Abu Dhabi is the Emirates Palace hotel. This majestic building is a waterfront landmark for the UAE capital, which commands 1.3 kilometers of private white sandy beach edging warm Arabian Gulf waters.

It cost about $3 billion to build this masterpiece of marble in three years by employing more than 20,000 workers. The hotel has 394 rooms and suites, employs 1,300 workers from 58 different countries, as well as operates 128 kitchens.

For more information, log onto its website (emiratespalace.com).

Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital

The hospital is the UAE’s first public falcon hospital set up in 1999. Falcons are a national symbol and heritage of the UAE and Abu Dhabi. In the past Bedouin tribesmen mobilized falcons to hunt rabbits and other animals in the desert. But over the years, it has become an expensive tradition and available exclusively for royal families and the rich.

The price of a falcon ranges from few thousand dollars to up to $50,000. A falcon’s average lifespan is 12 to 14 years.

Hunting is prohibited in the UAE, forcing Emiratis to go to Uzbekistan and other countries to engage in falconry. The UAE is the only country in the world to issue passports to falcons. Etihad Airways allows the falcons into a passenger cabin when they need to be transported.

Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital introduced a tourism program in 2007 on the back of increased public interest in the birds.

Tours include a visit to the museum and the hospital, picture taking with the majestic falcons and watching free flying falcons.

Guided tours are available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sunday to Thursday, except for public holidays. All tours have to be booked at least 24 hours in advance at www.falconhospital.com

Desert safari and other attractions

A desert safari is a must-do for travelers to Abu Dhabi and other Middle Eastern countries. It starts with an exciting ride up and down some of the desert’s biggest dunes and you can try sand skiing before watching the sun set.

After driving a short distance to a permanent desert camp you are treated to a sumptuous barbecue followed by shisha, camel rides, falconry displays and henna painting. You can choose to stay overnight or combine it with a trip into the mountains. Costs vary but expect to spend AED150 ($40) to AED300 ($80) for a day safari.

A dhow dinner cruise is one of Abu Dhabi’s main tourist attractions. A delightful and pleasantly surprising cruise aboard a traditional dhow along the picturesque Abu Dhabi Corniche offers riders a great view of the night skyline of the city.

The cruising restaurant operates daily from 8:30 p.m to 10:30 p.m, and the sumptuous BBQ seafood served on board includes continental salads, lobster, shrimp and other sea food in addition to desserts and beverages. For those interested taking the cruise ride while dinning on Arabian dishes log onto aldhafra.net and make reservations.

How to get to Abu Dhabi

Etihad Airways operates a daily flight from Incheon to Abu Dhabi. The UAE flagship carrier, which was established by UAE Royal Decree in July 2003, launched the operation on Dec. 11. Its three A330-200 airplanes have been put onto the Incheon-Abu Dhabi route, providing 2,800 seats each week to and from Korea, while code sharing with Asiana Airlines.